Local fire-alarm system.



D. G. DEE.

7 1l. 9 1 n.0 L my d e m. e .fu na D1 -4. Mm vEL... .Il S9 V|.I Sn. m M DnD AD LF. AL EH DnN Hm MM wm LW A Z/ F f M f V, M j l J l L a I rnvrnsa DAVID G. :onnor CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSICNOR, EY IviEsNE ASSIGNMENTS, To ROCHESTER II. ROGERS, 0E ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

LOCAL ETRE-ALARM sYsTEivI.

Specification of Lettersl'atent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed December 19, 1914. Serial No. 878,037.

have invented certain new and useful Im provements in Local Fire-Alarm Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to local fire alarm systems, which are complete in themselves, as distinguished from a fire alarm System having central oflice connections; and while the present system may be provided with such cential oh'ice connections, its primary function and purpose is to provide an interior or local lire alarm which may be operated for indicating within the building the locality of a ire.

The present system is supplied with a trouble or test circuit, whereby the alarm system may be tested, said trouble or test circuit being provided with a trouble alarm which will operate when any condition of trouble exists in the alarm circuit.

With the above and other objects in view, as will be hereinafter apparent, this invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanyingA drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a complete installation, illustrating the circuits, the circuit controls and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, prior to any operation on the part of the signal sending mechanisms or boxes;

Fig. 2 is a similar view and illustrates similar elements as positioned when a boX is operated.

ln a complete installation of the present invention, an alarm battery B, designed pri-l marily for use over the alarm circuit and which constitutes a Source of current supply for said alarm circuit, is provided, and has the line wire .7) connected to the positive pole thereof and the line wire Zi connected to the negative pole. The line wire 7) has a plurality of signal receiving devices 7 and signal sending devices or boxes 8 arranged in series therein, the details of said signal sending and said signal receiving mechanisms to be hereinafter more fully referred to. The wire o, which constitutes a continuation ofthe wire o, extends to the spring Contact 9, where it terminates. rilhe r line wire Z2 connects directly with thespring contact 10, said contact being bodily stationary. Normally held 1n operative engagenient with the contact 9 is a similar contact 11, which contact 11 is in circuit with the wire o", by means of a connection 12. The wire 6 is electrically connected with a spring contact 13.

Normally, as illustrated in Fig. l, the alarm circuit is open, and there is no battery flow from the supply B through the wires o, b and o However, when the signal sending mechanisms 8 are operated, the first step of operation thereof causes the spring contacts 10 and 13 to connect, thereby causing a flow from the positive pole of the battery B, through the wire Z), the signal receiving and sending mechanisms 7 and 8 respectively, the wire b, the contacts 9 and 11, through the wire 12 and the wire b", the contacts 13 and 10, the wire b, to the negative side of the battery B (see Fig. 2). The signal sending mechanisms 8, by their continued operation, operate the signal receiving mechanisms 7 over the alarm circuit thus built up. The circuit control which closes the circuit by bringing the contacts 10 and 13 together, comprises a relay which normally is controlled by the action of the signal sending mechanism, but in case of trouble, Such as the breaking or grounding of one of vthe wires o, b and om, it Operates to give a trouble alarm. This relay R comprises a coil 14 and an armature 15, said armature carrying the spring Contact 13 and also the spring contacts' 13 and 16, said contacts 13, 13 and 16 being insulated one from the other, as illustrated in the drawings. When the armature is held up, as illustra-ted in Fig. 1, the contact 13 is elevated from the contact 10, whereas when the armature 15 falls away, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the spring contact 13 is brought into engagement with the spring contact 10,establishing the alarm circuit. The contact 13 coperates with a stationary spring contact 10', 100

said contact 13 being in circuit with the wire b, and the Contact 10 being in circuit with the wire Z2. Thus, should the contacts 10 and 13 fail in their cooperation, the contacts 10 and 13 will complete the alarm circuit, 105

T, Ibeing' arranged to connect with a switch 110 vwith either one or the other of said batyboth batteries T and T;

teries. A line' wire teXtends from the switch 17 to the spring contact 16 carried by the armature 15, and has a trouble signal y 18V in series therein. y The spring contact 16 s arranged to coperate with a stationary spring contact 19, which contact is connected by means ot the wire 20 to the wire t, which is connected to the positive side of This Wire t connects with one terminal of the coil 14 of the 'relay R, while the other terminal of the coil lat is connected by a wire t to a wire t", which terminates in ak stationary spring contact 21, located to coperate with This wlre 15 also' `terminates 1n a spring contact 22, which is the spring contact 13.

arranged for cooperation with a movable spring contact 23.

Under normal conditions, that is to say, prior to anyV operation ot' the signal sending mechanisms 8, the relay R is energized from either ot' the trouble or test batteries T, T', dependent upon the location oi the switch 17, and the current iow is from the positive side of this battery, through the wire t', the coil 141 of the relay R, the wire t, the spring contacts 13 and 21, through the wire J", the wire 12, the contacts 11 and 9, the wires b, the signal sending and signal receiving mechanisms 8 and 7, the wire b, and through the wire t, which is connected to the wireV b, to the .negative side of the battery T or T. In this manner, a flow sufficient to energize the relay R and hold its armature 15 passes through the testcircuit so established, and should a wire in this test circuit be broken, the arma-ture 15 will tall away, assuming the position shown in Fig. 2. 1f this occurs, the contacts 13 and 21 will be separated and the contacts 13 and 10, and

.13 and 10', and 16 and 19, will be brought togetherfWhen the contacts 16 and 19 are brought together, the current flows from the positive side of either battery T or T', throughr the wire t', through the wire 20,

Lthrough the contacts 19 and 16, the wire t,

the trouble or test signal 18, and .through thewswitch 17 to fthe negative side of the battery T or T', causing the trouble or test signal to operate, indicating that trouble l exists in the alarm circuit.L Itis manifest tweenV the contacts 22 and 23.

By reference to the figures of the drawing, it'will be seen that, irrespective of the position of the 'relay or the condition of the circuits, the contacts 22 and 23 are always separated, and the contacts 9' and 11 are 'in Ydiately come together.

ting the relay after trouble or a test, which operation will now be described. When the system is in the condition shown in Fig. 1, the pressure placed upon the button 21, carried by the contact 11, breaks the connection between the contacts 9 and 11. This breaks the test circuit, which causes a separation of the contacts 13 and 21, thereby breaking the test circuit, which normally is established by the relay R from either battery T or T through the wire t, the signal sending and receiving mechanisms S and 7, wire 71, contacts 9 and 11, wire 72', contacts 13 and 21, wire t, coil 14 ot the relay, wire t', and either of the batteries T or T, in that the connection between the wires t and 22 is broken. This causes the armature 15 ot the relay to 'tall away, to cause the contacts 13, 13 and 16, carried by said armature, to assume the positions shown in Fig. 2. 1n this manner, the trouble or testalarm 18 is operated, and the relay assumes the position shown in F ig. 2, it having been completely removed from the circuit; and when pressure is removed from the button 2st, the contacts 9 and 11 imme- In order to re-set the mechanism, either after operating the testbutton 21 or after an alarm, the spring contact 23 is provided with a button 25 which constitutes the re-set button. By bringing the spring contacts 22 and 23 to: gether, the current low is from the positive pole ot' the battery B, through the wire t, either ot the batteries T or T', through the wire t', through the coil 1t of the relay R energizing the sa.me,`through the wire t, through the wire 25', the contacts 22 and 23, the wire 6', the contacts 10 and 13, and finally through the wire Z1 to the negative side of battery B. The combined action of one or the other ot the batteries T or T and the alarm battery B, overcomes the inertia ot the armature 15 oi the relay R, and l start-s to kdraw the same upwardly. The first movement on the part of the armature 15 breaks the connection between the contacts 13 and 1 0, 13 and 10, and 16 and 1S), and causes a flow from the positive side of either battery T or T, through the wire t, coil 141V of the relay B, wire t, to and through the wire 25', through the contacts 22 and 23 to the wire 12, and thence through the contacts 11 and 9 to the wire o, through the signal receiving and sending mechanisms 7 and 8, the wire the wire Z5, and thence through the switch to the negative side of either battery T or T, completing the setting of the relay.

The trouble alarm mechanism 13 is either an electrical vibrating bell, a buzzer, or a similar register, while the signal receiving mechanisms 7 of the alarm circuit are either electro-mechanical gongs, vibrating bells, horns or any other suitable signal receiving mechanisms, such as registers or other devices.

The signal sending mechanisms 8, however, are arranged to send a code signal over the alarm circuit when built up, and comprise` for that purpose a code wheel 26, of any suitable construction, which operates upon a pen 27. This pen is insulated from and is secured to a spring contact 28, which spring contact is connected by a wire 29 to the connecting wire b, as is also a spring contact 30, which is connected directly to the wire Z) entering the box containing the signal sending mechanism, thus creating two terminals for the wire 7J in each box. A central spring contact 31 is disposed between the contacts 28 and 30, and is adapted to contact with either ot said contacts 28 or 30. Al bell crank or lever 32 is connected to the spring contact 31, and is operated from the mechanism by means of which the code wheel 26 is rotated, so that when the movement of the box iirst begins to operate, the contact 31 is moved. This contact 31 is connected directly to the wire of the circuit (see Fig. 1), and when it is moved from engagement with either contact 28 or 30, the wire t is broken. Normally, however, the lever 32 holds the contact 31 in engagement with the contact 30, so that the flow of current is through the wire b, the contact 30, to the contact 31, and from the contact 31 to the wire 7J. The first movement, however, of the box, as has been stated, separates the contacts 30 and 31, and causes an instantaneous or slight breaking of the wire Z9, sutiiciently to denergize the relay R and permit the armature 15 to drop away, cutting the relay out of the test circuit and building up the alarm circuit. The rotation of the code wheel 26 operating against the pen 23 causes a series of make and break operations between the contact 28 and the contact 31, thus making and breaking the alarm circuit and causing a code signal to be received on the signal receiving mechanisms 7.

Tn order to prevent arcing between the contacts 28, 30 and 31, and particularly between the contacts 28 and 31 when sending the code alarm signal, a standard condenser (l is bridged between the wires extending into each box 3 and which constitute a loop in the wire Z) and b.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that this system is such that the circuit controller or relay R builds up, from the'connections or wires b, b, 6', t, t', t, 25'", etc., four complete circuits, to-wit, the test circuit, the

alarm circuit, the test or trouble alarm circuit, and two circuit controller or relay reset circuits. l

The test circuit is a normally established circuit and is built up when the armature 15 is held up by the coil 14 of the relay R. As has been stated, this circuit includes either of the batteries T or T', the wire t, the wire the boxes and bells 8 and 7, the wire b, the contacts 9 and 11, the wire ZQ", the contacts 13 and 21, the wire t, the coil 14 of the relay, and the wire t', to the opposite side of either battery T or T.

The alarm circuit is set up when the code wheel of one of the boxes begins to rotate, which causes the contacts 30 and 31 to separate, creating a break in the wire to allow the relay to tall away. This circuit includes the alarm battery B, the wire Z), the wire o, the contacts 9 and 11, the wire 25', the contacts 13 and 10 and the wire The test or trouble alarm circuit is built up simultaneously with the alarm circuit just referred to, when the relay R falls away, as illustrated in Fig. 2, and includes either of the batteries T or T, the wire t, the test or trouble alarm 18, the contacts 16 and'19, the 'wire 20 and the wire t.

The circuit controller or relay reset circuits are successively built up when the contact 23 is forced against the contact 22. The first of these circuits includes either of the batteries T or T', and the battery B, the wire z, the coil 14, the wire t, the wire t, contacts 22 and 23, the wire 6', the conta cts 13 and 10, and wire t', through battery B, and the wire t to battery T or T.

fitter the combined action of the batteries B and T has moved the armature 15 of the relay it, the second re-set circuit is established, including only either of the batteries T or T, the wire the coil 14 oi the relay B, the wire t, the wire t", the contacts 22 and 23, the wire 12, the contacts 9 and 11, the wire ZJ", the bells and boxes 7 and 8, the wire Z), to the wire t, and through the wire t to the battery T.

1t is there-tore apparent that the operation of the relay or of the boxes 8 destroys certain circuits and builds up certain other circuits through the connections between the various mechanisms, and that at no time is a permanent circuit established which retains its integrity irrespectve of the operation of the various mechanical or electrical mechanisms therein.

ilhile the preferred torm of the present invention has been illustrated and described, itis to be understood that many changes may be made in the circuits, the construction of the boxes 8, and other details of this invention, without departing 'from the scope and spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. 1n a tire alarm system, signal sending and receiving mechanisms in series, an alarm battery and a test battery, and means for establishing an alarm circuit through the signal sending and receiving mechanisms and the alarm battery, said means also establishing a test circuit throughthe signal sending mechanisms and the 'signal receiving mechaf nisms with the test battery when the alarm circuit is not established.

2. In an alarm system, signal sending and signal receiving mechanisms, an alarm battery, a test battery,connecticns between both the alarm and test batteries and the signal receiving and signal sending mechanisms, and means for establishing an alarm circuit through the alarm battery and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, and also a normal test circuit th 1sugli the test batteries' and the signal sending and signal receiving mechanisms which is destroyed upon the establishment of said alarm circuit.

3. In an alarm system, signal sending and signal receiving mechanisms, an alarm source of' current sugply and a test source of current supply, connections between both sources of current supply and. the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, and means for establishing a circuit with said connections including the alarm soui'ce of current supply and the signal sending mechanisms and signal receiving mechanisms, or the test source et current supply and the signal receiving or Y signal sending mechanisms.

d. In an alarm system, signal sending and signalreceiving mechanisms, an alarm battery, a test battery, connections between both of said batteries and said sign al sending and receiving mechanisms, and means for building up anra'larm circuit from said connections including the alarm battery and the signal receiving and sending mechanisms, or building up a vtest circuit' from said connections including the test battery and the signal sending and receivingmechanisms. Y

5. In an alarm system, signaling mechanism, a test battery, an alarm battery, a test alarm, connections between said batteries, test alarm and said signaling mechanism, and means Jor building up an alarm circuit from said connections including the signaling mechanism and alarm battery and eX- cluding the test battery from said alarm circuit.

6. In'an alarm system, signaling mecha- Y nism, a test battery, an alarm battery, a test alarm, connections between said batteries, test alarm and said signaling mechanism,

, and means for building up an alarm circuit Jrem said connections including the signaling mechanism and alarm battery and ox- Vcludingsaid test battery, or building up a ytest circuit including'tlie test battery and the signaling mechanisms and excluding said alarm battery.

7.lIn an alarm system, signaling mechanism, a test battery, an alarm battery, a test alarm, connections between said batteries, test alarm and said signaling mechanism, means for building up an alarm circuit from said connections including the signaling mechanism and alarm battery, or building up a test circuit including the test battery and the signaling mechanisms, and means for operating the test alarm from the test battery. upon the breaking of the test circuit so built up.

8. In an alarm system, the combination with a signal sending mechanism, ot a signal receiving mechanism, a test battery, an alarm battery, connections between birth of said batteries and said signal sending and receiving mechanisms, and means for normally building up a test circuit including the test batteries and signal sending and receivin g mechanisms and excluding the alarm battery.

9. 1n 'an alarm system, the combination with a signal sending mechanism, of a nal receiving mechanism, a test battery, an alarm battery, connections between both ot said batteries and said signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means for normally building up a test circuit including the test batteries and signal sending an(L receiving mechanisms, and means whereby the operation of the signal sending mechanism operates the last said means to establish an alarm circuit including the signal sending mechanism and signal receiving mechanism and the alarm battery and excluding the test battery.

l0. The combination with a signaling mechanism, of an alarm battery and a test battery, a relay, connections between said batteries and said signaling mechanisms including said relay, and means operable by said relay for normally establishing a test circuit including the test battery and the signaling mechanisms and excluding the alarm battery.

11. The combination with signaling mechanisms of an alarm battery and a test battery, a relay, connections between said batteries and said signaling mechanisms including said relay, and means operable Y cluding the alarm battery.

13. The`combination with signalinginechanisms, of an alarm battery and a test battery, a relay, connections between said batteries and said signaling mechanisms including said relay, and contacts operated by the relay for building up an alarm circuit including the alarm battery and signaling mechanisms and excluding the said test battery.

lll. In an alarm system, the combination with a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, of an alarm battery, a test battery, a relay, and means whereby the armature of the relay is held up by the test battery aforesaid completing a test circuit through the test battery, the signal sending and receiving mechanisms and the relay to the exclusion of the alarm battery.

15. ln :in alarm system, the combination with a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, of an alarm battery, a test battery, a relay, means whereby the armature of the relay is held up by the test battery aforesaid completing a test circuit through the test battery, the signal sending and receiving mechanisms and the relay, and means whereby the operation of a signal sending mechanism denergizes the relay, creating an alarm circuit including the alarm battery and the signal sending and receiving' mechanisms and excluding said test battery from said alarm circuit.

16. ln an alarm system, a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, an alarm battery, a trouble battery, a relay, electrical connections between the res lay, the signal sending mechanism, the signal receiving mechanism, the test battery and the alarm battery, means operable by the relay when energized for building up a test circuit of said connections including the test battery, the relay and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms to the exclusion of said alarm battery, and other means for building up an alarm circuit from said connections when said relay is denergized including the alarm battery and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms and excluding said test battery.

17. An alarm system comprising a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, a test or trouble alarm, an alarm battery, a test battery, a relay, electrical connections between the relay and both of the batteries aforesaid, the test or trouble alarm and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means operable when the relay is energized for building up a test circuit of said connections including the relay, the test battery and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, and further means operable when the relay is denergized for building up a test or trouble alarm circuit from said connections, including the test battery and the test or trouble alarm.

18. An alarm system comprising a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, a relay, a test or trouble alarm, an alarm battery and a test or trouble battery, electrical connections between the ren lay, both of the batteries aforesaid, the test or trouble alarm and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means operable when the relay is energized for building up a test circuit of said connections, including the relay, the test battery and the signal sending and receivingA mechanisms, and means when the signal sending mechanism is operated for building up simultaneously an alarm circuit including .the alarm battery and signal' sending and receiving mechanisms, and a trouble or test alarm circuit including the test batteries and the test or trouble alarm.

19. An alarm system comprising a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, a relay, a test or trouble alarm, an alarm battery and a test or trouble battery, electrical connections between the relay, both of the batteries aforesaid, the test or trouble alarm and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means operable when the relay is energized for building up a test circuit of said connections, including the relay, the test battery and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means when the signal sending mechanism is operated for building up simultaneously an alarm circuit' including the alarm battery and signal sending and receiving mechanisms, and a trouble or test alarm circuit including the test batteries and the test or trouble alarm, and means arranged to control the current How through the electrical connections aforesaid for causing both of said batteries to energize the relay after the denergization thereof.

20. An alarm system comprising a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, a relay, a test or trouble alarm, an alarm battery and a test or trouble battery, electrical connections between the relay, both of the batteries aforesaid, the test or trouble alarm and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means operable when the relay is energized for building up a test circuit of said connections, including the relay, the test battery and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means when the signal sending mechanism is operated for building up simultaneously an alarm circuit including the alarm battery and signal sending and receiving mechanisms, and a trouble or test alarm circuit including the test batteries and the test or trouble alarm, and means arranged to control the current flow through the electrical connections aforesaid for causing both of said batteries to energize the relay after the denergization thereof for restablishing the test circuit aforesaid which was destroyed upon the denergization of the relay.

21. An alarm system comprising a signal sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, a relay, a test or trouble battery, an alarm battery, electrical connections beween both of the batteries aforesaid, the relay and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means operable bythe relay for building up a test circuit including the test battery, the relay and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms and excluding said alarm battery, and means whereby the signal sending mechanism may denergize the re- Y lay tobuild up an alarm circuit including the alarm battery and thesignal sending and receiving mechanisms and excluding the test battery.

22. An alarm system comprising a signal 'sending mechanism and a signal receiving mechanism, a-relay, a test or trouble battery, an alarm battery, electrical connections betWeenj both of the batteries aforesaid, the relay and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means operable Vby the relay for building up a test circuit including the test battery, the relay and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, a trouble or test alarm, and means ywhereby the breaking of the connections of the test circuit aforesaid builds up from said connections a test or cluding the relay, the test battery and the signal sending and receiving mechanisms, means whereby the deinergization of the relay builds up from said connections an alarm circuit including the alarm battery and the signal sending and receiving mechas nisms, and simultaneously with a trouble or test alarm circuit including the test battery, and means for re-setting or renergizing the relay for again establishing the test circuit aforesaid.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses. on this the 15th day ot December, A. D. 191i.

DAVID G. DEE. lVitnesses:

CHAs. R. PEEL, CHARLES S. VVrLsoN.

. f `Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of IPatents,

Washington, D. C. 

